Raiders take a chance on DT Maurice Hurst

The Oakland Raiders used one of their late picks to take a chance on a player that fell because of medical issues, drafting Michigan’s defensive tackle Maurice Hurst.

Hurst was a potential first round pick until doctors at the combine discovered heart issues, causing many teams to not even consider drafting him.

Raiders used the 140th overall pick in the fifth round on Michigan DT Maurice Hurst, who might have gone in the first round were it not for heart issues that doctors uncovered at the combine. Most teams had Hurst off their board; Raiders clearly did not.

After being sent home from the combine, Hurst was cleared by doctors to participate in the Michigan Pro Day. The exact diagnosis hasn’t been revealed but executives have compared it to the same issue both Star Lotulelei and Nick Fairley dealt with.

Hurst is undersized but had an impressive 2017 by wreaking havoc for the Wolverines with 14.5 tackles for a loss due to his size of speed, power and variety of pass rushing moves.

If medically cleared, Hurst can make a big impact on the Raiders defense right away, who needed a pass-rushing defensive tackle. The Raiders also took athletic P.J. Hall in the second round.

The Raiders traded 159th overall and 185th overall to the Indianapolis Colts to make the selection.